Ninh Thuan seeks ways to preserve traditional pottery-making craft

Ninh Thuan (VNA) – More than 200 delegates from various countries have gathered
at a conference in the south central province of Ninh Thuan to discuss measures
to preserve and promote the values of pottery-making of the Cham ethnic people.

The
pottery-making craft of the Cham ethnic minority group is seeking UNESCO’s
recognition as intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding.

The two-day
event, which opened on December 8, aimed to collect ideas from domestic and
foreign scientists, researchers and experts as well as documents to support the
building of dossiers submitted to the UNESCO to apply for the title.

Participants
at the event highlighted outstanding values of Cham people’s traditional
pottery-making, while announcing the outcomes of their researches on the
relations between the Cham’s pottery and other pottery hubs of Vietnam and
Asian countries.

They
analysed the current situation of the heritage, affirming the need for urgent
protection of the pottery-making craft, and proposing solutions to the work.

The
participants also shared experiences in preserving and developing traditional
pottery villages and designing policies to make planning for the villages as
well as developing pottery village tourism.

They
exchanged ideas on measures to transfer the craft to younger generations and
popularise it to the world.

One of the
typical pottery villages of Ninh Thuan is Bau Truc ancient village, which is
famous for hand-made pottery products which are made with unique technical
process, making them different from products of other villages.

However,
Bau Truc pottery is fading due to the industrialization process, with fewer
workers engaging in the craft.

Assistant
Prof. Dr. Truong Van Mon from the Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh
City said that it is necessary to draw more tourists to the village to improve
incomes for artisans.

Le Van
Binh, Vice Chairman of the Ninh Thuan People’s Committee, said that currently, procedures
related to the building of dossiers of Cham people’s tradition pottery-making
has nearly finished. The document is scheduled to be sent to the UNESCO
Committee in March 2019.-VNA